The Cure’s Robert Smith has been announced as the curator of the 2018 Meltdown festival. The event, which will be held at London’s Southbank Centre, is now in its 25th year.

Each Meltdown festival is curated by a different artist. In a statement, Smith said: “I am honoured and excited to be curating the 25th Meltdown Festival. More than 30 of my all time favourite artists – some of the most exciting, inspirational, intense and influential performers of the last 40 years – will make sure this 10-night extravaganza at London’s Southbank Centre is the must-see event of the summer!”

The first artists for Smith’s event will be announced in early March. This year’s festival will be the first to take place across the entire Southbank Centre site, including the recently refurbished Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room.

The Cure frontman follows in some pretty remarkable and diverse footsteps as Meltdown curator. From British composer George Benjamin in 1993 to rapper record producer and activist M.I.A. in 2017, 24 legendary artists have gone before Smith, each putting their own special stamp on the festival as they delivered their own Meltdown vision.

More than 30 of my all-time favourite artists - some of the most exciting, inspirational, intense and influential performers of the last 40 years - will make sure this ten-night extravaganza is the ‘must see’ event of the summer!Robert Smith

Robert Smith has announced the artists he has curated for this year's Meltdown festival.

Smith said: "Curating this 25th Meltdown festival is a dream come true, a fantastic experience... albeit getting 60 wonderful artists, including many of my all time favourites, to come together for 10 days in June is not without its challenges - as one of my predecessors noted, it is akin to figuring out a giant psychedelic puzzle.

"But as each invitee confirms, as each shimmering piece falls into place, I pinch myself - this is really happening... and the complete picture will undoubtedly be out of this world!"

Lets my memory be perverted to the uses Of lying and oppression. My lovers and their children must not be dispossessed of me;I would be the untarnished possession foreverOf those for whom I lived.(Spoon River Anthology, E.L.M.)